Write data processing circuits and methods associated with computational memory cells

ABSTRACT

A write data processing apparatus and method associated with computational memory cells formed as a memory/processing array provides the ability to shift data between adjacent bit lines in each section of the memory/processing array or the same relative bit lines in adjacent sections of the memory/processing array. The memory/processing array has one or more sections and each section has its own unique set of “n” bit lines.

PRIORITY CLAIM/RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of and claims priority under 35 USC 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/111,183, filed Aug. 23, 2018 and entitled “Write Data Processing Circuits And Methods Associated With Computational Memory Cells”, continuation in part of and claims priority under 35 USC 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/709,399, filed Sep. 19, 2017 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells For Xor And Xnor Computations”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/709,401, filed Sep. 19, 2017 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells For Xor And Xnor Computations”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/709,379, filed Sep. 19, 2017 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/709,382, filed Sep. 19, 2017 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/709,385, filed Sep. 19, 2017 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells” that in turn claim priority under 35 USC 119(e) and 120 and claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/430,767, filed Dec. 6, 2016 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells For Xor And Xnor Computations” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/430,762, filed Dec. 6, 2016 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells”, the entirety of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to a computational memory element and in particular to a computational memory element having write data processing.

BACKGROUND

Memory cells have traditionally been used to store bits of data. It is also possible to architect a memory cell so that the memory cell is able to perform some simple logical functions when multiple memory cells are connected to the same read bit line. For example, when memory cells A, B, and C are connected to a particular read bit line and are read simultaneously, and the memory cells and read bit line circuitry are designed to produce a logical AND result, then the result that appears on the read bit line is AND(a,b,c) (i.e. “a AND b AND c”), where a, b, and c represent the binary data values stored in memory cells A, B, and C respectively.

By themselves, these computational memory cells and read bit line circuitry allow for a single logical function (e.g. AND) to be performed across multiple memory cells connected to the same read bit line, when read simultaneously. However, in many cases more complex logical functions across multiple memory cells connected to the same read bit line are desirable. To facilitate these more complex logical functions, it is desirable to be able to shift/write data between sections of the multiple memory cells and thus, it is desirable to provide additional circuitry that facilitates the more complex logical functions and it is to this end that the disclosure is directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a semiconductor memory that may include a plurality of computation memory cells and write circuitry;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a computer system that may include a plurality of computation memory cells and a write circuitry;

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a processing array with computational memory cells that may be incorporated into a semiconductor memory or computer system;

FIG. 3B illustrates the processing array with computational memory cells having one section and multiple bit line sections;

FIG. 3C illustrates the processing array with computational memory cells having multiple sections and multiple bit line sections;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of two different types of computational memory cells that may be used in the semiconductor memory of FIG. 1, the computer system of FIG. 2 or the processing array of FIGS. 3A-3C;

FIG. 5 illustrates read/write logic including read logic, read data storage, and write logic associated with each bit line section in the processing array device depicted in FIG. 3C;

FIG. 6 illustrates a processing array device comprising “k” sections with “n” bit lines in each section, where each bit line within each section connects to “m” computational memory cells;

FIG. 7 illustrates the read logic, read data storage, and write logic associated with each bit line section in the processing array device depicted in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the read logic, read data storage, and write logic associated with each bit line section in the processing array device depicted in FIG. 6 with the ability to invert the selected data before it is stored in the bit line section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE EMBODIMENTS

The disclosure is particularly applicable to a processing array, semiconductor memory or computer that utilizes a plurality of computational memory cells (with each cell being formed with a static random access memory (SRAM) cell) and additional write processing circuitry to provide more complex logical functions based on the data read out of the computational memory cells and it is in this context that the disclosure will be described. It will be appreciated, however, that each memory cell may be other types of volatile and non-volatile memory cell that are within the scope of the disclosure, that other additional write circuitry (including more, less or different logic) may be used are within the scope of the disclosure or that different computational memory cell architectures that those disclosed below are within the scope of the disclosure.

The disclosure is directed to a memory/processing array that has a plurality of computing memory cells in an array with additional write processing circuitry. A column of computing memory cells in the array may each have a read bit line and the read bit line for each of the computing memory cells in the column may be tied together as a single read bit line. The memory/processing array may be subdivided into one or more sections (an example of which is shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C) wherein each section has a unique set of “n” bit lines (each bit line being part of a bit line section) where each bit line section comprises a single read bit line and a pair of positive and negative write bit lines, with each bit line connected to “m” computational memory cells. Each bit line section also may have a read data storage that is used to capture and store the read result from the read bit line during read operations (so a read data storage is implemented per read bit line) and write circuitry for shifting read data among the bit line sections of the array. In the disclosure, BL-Sect[x,y] is a shorthand notation indicating a bit line section with bit line “y” in section “x”.

Write circuitry is disclosed that may be used with the memory/processing array with the sections above since it is desirable to be able to shift data between adjacent bit lines in the same section (e.g. between bl-sect[x,y] and bl-sect[x,y+1]), and between the same relative bit lines in adjacent sections (e.g. between bl-sect[x,y] and bl-sect[x+1,y]). To facilitate this ability, the read data storage output in each bit line section (such as bl-sect[x,y]) is connected not only to that bl-sect's write circuitry, but also to the write circuitry associated with its horizontally and vertically adjacent neighbor bl-sects: for example, bl-sect[x,y-1], bl-sect[x,y+1], bl-sect[x−1,y], and bl-sect[x+1,y] for a bit line section in the middle of the array with bit line y in section x. Consequently, the write circuitry in each bl-sect[x,y] receives the read data storage outputs from 5 bl-sects—itself and its 4 neighbors, and during write operations a 5:1 mux is used to select one of those 5 read data storage outputs as the write data for that bit line section (“bl-sect”). It is also desirable to be able to invert the selected data (i.e. the 5:1 mux output) before it is stored in the bl-sect during a write operation. The write processing circuitry may have some simple logic along with a write data inversion control signal to facilitate the write data inversion.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a semiconductor memory 10 that may include a plurality of computation memory cells and write circuitry that are described below in more detail. The below disclosed plurality of computation memory cells and write circuitry allow the semiconductor memory 10 to perform more complex logic functions than are possible with just the plurality of computation memory cells. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a computer system 20 that may include a plurality of computation memory cells and write circuitry that are described below in more detail. The below disclosed plurality of computation memory cells and write circuitry allow the semiconductor memory 20 to perform more complex logic functions than are possible with just the plurality of computation memory cells. The computer system 20 may have at least one processor 22 and a memory 24 that may include the plurality of computation memory cells and write circuitry.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a processing array 30 with computational memory cells in an array that may be incorporated into a semiconductor memory or computer system. The processing array 30 may include an array of computational memory cells (cell 00 . . . , cell 0 n and cell m0, . . . , cell mn). In one embodiment, the array of computational memory cells may be rectangular as shown in FIG. 3 and may have a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows wherein the computational memory cells in a particular column may also be connected to the same read bit line (RBL). The processing array 30 may further include a wordline (WL) generator and read/write logic control circuit 32 that may be connected to and generate signals for the read word line (RE) and write word line (WE) for each memory cell (such as RE0 . . . , REn and WE0, . . . , WEn) to control the read and write operations as well known and one more read/write blocks 34 that are connected to the read and write bit lines of the computational memory cells. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the processing array may have read/write circuitry 34 for each set of bit line signals of the computational memory cells. For example, BL0 read/write logic 340 may be coupled to the read and write bit lines (WBLb0, WBL0 and RBL0) for the computational memory cells in column 0 of the array and BLn read/write logic 34 n may be coupled to the read and write bit lines (WBLbn, WBLn and RBLn) for the computational memory cells in column n of the array as shown in FIG. 3.

The wordline (WL) generator and read/write logic control circuit 32 may also generate one or more control signals that control the read/write circuitry 34. For example, for the different embodiments of the read/write logic described in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/111,178, filed on Aug. 23, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference, the one or more control signals may include a Read_Done control signal, an XORacc_En control signal, an ANDacc_En control signal and an ORacc_En control signal. Note that for each different embodiment, a different one or more of the control signals is used so that the wordline (WL) generator and read/write logic control circuit 32 may generate different control signals for each embodiment or the wordline (WL) generator and read/write logic control circuit 32 may generate each of the control signals, but then only certain of the control signals or all of the control signals may be utilized as described in the above incorporated by reference co-pending patent application.

During a read operation, the wordline (WL) generator and read/write logic control circuit 32 may activate one or more word lines that activate one or more computational memory cells so that the read bit lines of those one or more computational memory cells may be read out. Further details of the read operation are not provided here since the read operation is well known.

FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate the processing array 30 with computational memory cells having sections having the same elements as shown in FIG. 3A. The array 30 in FIG. 3B has one section (Section 0) with “n” bit lines (bit line 0 (BL0), . . . , bit line n (BLn)) in different bit line sections, where each bit line connects to “m” computational memory cells (cell 00, . . . , cell m0 for bit line 0 for example). In the example in FIG. 3B, the m cells may be the plurality of computational memory cells that are part of each column of the array 30. FIG. 3C illustrates the processing array 30 with computational memory cells having multiple sections. In the example in FIG. 3C, the processing array device 30 comprises “k” sections with “n” bit lines each, where each bit line within each section connects to “m” computational memory cells. Note that the other elements of the processing array 30 are present in FIG. 3C, but not shown for clarity. In FIG. 3C, there are no read data storage output paths between horizontally adjacent bit lines in the same section, nor between the same relative bit line in vertically adjacent sections. In FIG. 3C, the BL-Sect(0,0) block shown corresponds to the BL-Sect(0,0) shown in FIG. 3B with the plurality of computational memory cells and the read/write logic 340 and each other block shown in FIG. 3C corresponds to a separate portion of the processing array. As shown in FIG. 3C, the set of control signals, generated by the wordline generator and read/write logic controller 32, for each section may include one or more read enable control signals (for example S[0]_RE[m:0] for section 0), one or more write enable control signals (for example S[0]_WE[m:0] for section 0) and one or more read/write control signals (for example S[0]_RW_Ctrl[p:0] for section 0).

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of two different types of computational memory cells that may be used in the semiconductor memory of FIG. 1, the computer system of FIG. 2 or the processing array of FIGS. 3 and 6. In the examples, the computational memory cell are based on an SRAM memory cell.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a dual port SRAM cell 20 that may be used for computation. The dual port SRAM cell may include two cross coupled inverters I21, I22 and two access transistors M23 and M24 that interconnected together to form a 6T SRAM cell. The SRAM may be operated as storage latch and may have a write port. The two inverters are cross coupled since the input of the first inverter is connected to the output of the second inverter and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the input of the second inverter as shown in FIG. 4A. A Write Word line carries a signal and is called WE and a write bit line and its complement are called WBL and WBLb, respectively. The Write word line WE is coupled to the gates of the two access transistors M23, M24 that are part of the SRAM cell. The write bit line and its complement (WBL and WBLb) are each coupled to one side of the respective access transistors M23, M24 as shown in FIG. 4A while the other side of each of those access transistors M23, M24 are coupled to each side of the cross coupled inverters (labeled D and Db in FIG. 4A.)

The circuit in FIG. 4A may also have a read word line RE, a read bit line RBL and a read port formed by transistors M21, M22 coupled together to form as isolation circuit as shown. The read word line RE may be coupled to the gate of transistor M21 that forms part of the read port while the read bit line is coupled to the source terminal of transistor M21. The gate of transistor M22 may be coupled to the Db output from the cross coupled inverters I21, I22.

During reading, multiple cells (with only a single cell being shown in FIG. 4A) can turn on to perform an AND function. Specifically, at the beginning of the read cycle, RBL is pre-charged high and if the Db signal of all cells that are turned on by RE is “0”, then RBL stays high since, although the gate of transistor M21 is turned on by the RE signal, the gate of M22 is not turned on and the RBL line is not connected to the ground to which the drain of transistor M22 is connected. If the Db signal of any or all of the cells is “1” then RBL is discharged to 0 since the gate of M22 is turned on and the RBL line is connected to ground. As a result, RBL=NOR (Db0, Db1, etc.) where Db0, Db1, etc. are the complementary data of the SRAM cells that have been turned on by the RE signal. Alternatively, RBL=NOR (Db0, Db1, etc.)=AND (D0, D1, etc.), where D0, D1, etc. are the true data of the cells that have been turned on by the RE signal.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the Db signal of the cell 20 may be coupled to a gate of transistor M22 to drive the RBL. However, unlike the typical 6T cell, the Db signal is isolated from the RBL line and its signal/voltage level by the transistors M21, M22. Because the Db signal/value is isolated from the RBL line and signal/voltage level, the Db signal is not susceptive to the lower bit line level caused by multiple “0” data stored in multiple cells in contrast to the typical SRAM cell. Therefore, for the cell in FIG. 4A, there is no limitation of how many cells can be turned on to drive RBL. As a result, the cell (and the device made up for multiple cells) offers more operands for the AND function since there is no limit of how many cells can be turned on to drive RBL. Furthermore, in the cell in FIG. 4A, the RBL line is pre-charged (not a static pull up transistor as with the typical 6T cell) so this cell can provide much faster sensing because the current generated by the cell is all be used to discharge the bit line capacitance with no current being consumed by a static pull up transistor so that the bit line discharging rate can be faster by more than 2 times. The sensing for the disclosed cell is also lower power without the extra current consumed by a static pull up transistor and the discharging current is reduced by more than half.

The write port of the cell in FIG. 4A is operated in the same manner as the 6T typical SRAM cell. As a result, the write cycle and Selective Write cycle for the cell have the same limitation as the typical 6T cell. In addition to the AND function described above, the SRAM cell 20 in FIG. 4A also may perform a NOR function by storing inverted data. Specifically, if D is stored at the gate of M22, instead of Db, then RBL=NOR (D0, D1, etc.). One skilled in the art understand that the cell configuration shown in FIG. 4A would be slightly altered to achieve this, but that modification is within the scope of the disclosure. Further details of this exemplary computational memory cell is found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 15/709,379, 15/709,382 and 15/709,385 all filed on Sep. 19, 2017 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells” which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 4B illustrates an implementation of a dual port SRAM cell 100 with an XOR function. The dual port SRAM cell 100 may include two cross coupled inverters I31, I32 and two access transistors M33 and M34 that are interconnected together as shown in FIG. 4B to form the basic SRAM cell. The SRAM may be operated as storage latch and may have a write port. The two inverters I31, I32 are cross coupled since the input of the first inverter is connected to the output of the second inverter (labeled D) and the output of the first inverter (labeled Db) is coupled to the input of the second inverter as shown in FIG. 4B. The cross coupled inverters I31, I32 form the latch of the SRAM cell. The access transistor M33 and M34 may have their respective gates connected to write bit line and its complement (WBL, WBLb) respectively. A Write Word line carries a signal WE. The Write word line WE is coupled to the gate of a transistor M35 that is part of the access circuitry for the SRAM cell.

The circuit in FIG. 4B may also have a read word line RE, a read bit line RBL and a read port formed by transistors M31, M32 coupled together to form as isolation circuit as shown. The read word line RE may be coupled to the gate of transistor M31 that forms part of the read port while the read bit line RBL is coupled to the drain terminal of transistor M31. The gate of transistor M32 may be coupled to the Db output from the cross coupled inverters I31, I32. The isolation circuit isolates the latch output Db (in the example in FIG. 4B) from the read bit line and signal/voltage level so that the Db signal is not susceptive to the lower bit line level caused by multiple “0” data stored in multiple cells in contrast to the typical SRAM cell.

The cell 100 may further include two more read word line transistors M36, M37 and one extra complementary read word line, REb. When the read port is active, either RE or REb is high and the REb signal/voltage level is the complement of RE signal/voltage level. RBL is pre-charged high, and if one of (M31, M32) or (M36, M37) series transistors is on, RBL is discharged to 0. If none of (M31, M32) or (M36, M37) series transistors is on, then RBL stay high as 1 since it was precharged high. The following equation below, where D is the data stored in the cell and Db is the complement data stored in the cell, describes the functioning/operation of the cell: RBL=AND(NAND(RE,Db),NAND(REb,D))=XNOR(RE,D)  (EQ1)

If the word size is 8, then it needs to be stored in 8 cells (with one cell being shown in FIG. 4B) on the same bit line. On a search operation, an 8 bit search key can be entered using the RE, REb lines of eight cells to compare the search key with cell data. If the search key bit is 1, then the corresponding RE=1 and REb=0 for that cell. If the search key bit is 0, then the corresponding RE=0 and REb=1. If all 8 bits match the search key, then RBL will be equal to 1. IF any 1 of the 8 bits is not matched, then RBL will be discharged and be 0. Therefore, this cell 100 (when used with 7 other cells for an 8 bit search key) can perform the same XNOR function but uses half the number of cell as the typical SRAM cell. The following equation for the multiple bits on the bit line may describe the operation of the cells as: RBL=AND(XNOR(RE1,D1),XNOR(RE2,D2), . . . ,XNOR(REi,Di)), where i is the number of active cell.  (EQ2)

By controlling either RE or REb to be a high signal/on, the circuit 100 may also be used to do logic operations mixing true and complement data as shown below: RBL=AND(D1,D2, . . . ,Dn,Dbn+1,Dbn+2, . . . Dbm)  (EQ3)

where D1, D2, . . . Dn are “n” number of data with RE on and Dbn+1, Dbn+2, . . . Dbm are m-n number of data with REb on.

Furthermore, if the cell 100 stores inverse data, meaning WBL and WBLb shown in FIG. 4B is swapped, then the logic equation EQ1 becomes XOR function and logic equation EQ3 becomes NOR a function and can be expressed as EQ 4 and EQ5 RBL=XOR(RE,D)  (EQ4) RBL=NOR(D1,D2, . . . ,Dn,Dbn+1,Dbn+2, . . . Dbm)  (EQ5) where D1, D2, . . . Dn are n number of data with RE on and Dbn+1, Dbn+2, . . . Dbm are m-n number of data with REb on.

In another embodiment, the read port of the circuit 100 is FIG. 4B may be reconfigured differently to achieve different Boolean equation. Specifically, transistors M31, M32, M36 and M37 may be changed to PMOS and the source of M32 and M37 is VDD instead of VSS, the bit line is pre-charged to 0 instead of 1 and the word line RE active state is 0. In this embodiment, the logic equations EQ1 is inverted so that RBL is an XOR function of RE and D (EQ6). EQ3 is rewritten as an OR function (EQ7) as follows: RBL=XOR(RE,D)  (EQ6) RBL=OR(D1,D2, . . . ,Dn,Dbn+1,Dbn+2, . . . Dbm)  (EQ7) where D1, D2, . . . Dn are n number of data with RE on and Dbn+1, Dbn+2, . . . Dbm are m-n number of data with REb on.

If the cell stores the inverse data of the above discussed PMOS read port, meaning WBL and WBLb is swapped, then RBL=XNOR(RE,D)  (EQ8) RBL=NAND(D1,D2, . . . ,Dn,Dbn+1,Dbn+2, . . . Dbm)  (EQ9)

where D1, D2, . . . Dn are n number of data with RE on and Dbn+1, Dbn+2, . . . Dbm are m-n number of data with REb on.

For example, consider a search operation where a digital word needs to be found in a memory array in which the memory array can be configured as each bit of the word stored on the same bit line. To compare 1 bit of the word, then the data is stored in a cell and its RE is the search key Key, then EQ1 can be written as below: RBL=XNOR(Key,D)  EQ10 If Key=D, then RBL=1. If the word size is 8 bits as D[0:7], then the search key Key[0:7] is its RE, then EQ2 can be expressed as search result and be written as below: RBL=AND(XNOR(Key[0],D[0]),XNOR(Key[1],D[1], . . . ,Key[7],D[7])  EQ11 If all Key[i] is equal to D[i] where i=0-7, then the search result RBL is match. Any one of Key[i] is not equal to D[i], then the search result is not match. Parallel search can be performed in 1 operation by arranging multiple data words along the same word line and on parallel bit lines with each word on 1 bit line. Further details of this computation memory cell may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 15/709,399 and 15/709,401 both filed on Sep. 19, 2017 and entitled “Computational Dual Port Sram Cell And Processing Array Device Using The Dual Port Sram Cells For Xor And Xnor Computations”, which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 5 illustrates the read/write circuitry 34 including read logic, read data storage, and write logic associated with each bl-sect in the processing array device depicted in FIG. 3C. The read/write circuitry 34 for each section may include read circuitry 50, a read storage 52, implemented as a register, and write circuitry 54. The read circuitry 50 and read storage 52 allows the data on the read bit lines connected to the particular read circuitry and read storage to accumulate so that more complex Boolean logic operations may be performed. Various implementations of the read circuitry 50 and read storage 52 may be found in Ser. No. 16/111,178, filed Aug. 23, 2018 that is co-pending and co-owned and is incorporated herein by reference. The write circuitry 54 manages the writing of data from each section. Each of the read circuitry 50, read storage 52 and write circuitry 54 may be connected to one or more control signals (S[x]_RW_Ctrl[p:0] in the example implementation shown in FIG. 5) that control the operation of each of the circuits. The control signals may include the read control signals that are described above in the incorporated by reference patent application.

The read circuitry 50 may receive inputs from the read bit lines of the computing memory cells of the section (S[x]_RBL[y]) and the write circuitry 54 may receive an input from the read data storage 52 and output data to the word bit lines of the computing memory cells of the section (S[x]_WBL[y] and S[x]_WBLb[y] in the example in FIG. 5). Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the read storage 52 output is only connected to the write circuitry 54 associated with its own bl-sect. Consequently, the write circuitry 54 associated with each bl-sect receives the read data storage output only from its own bl-sect, and therefore each bl-sect can only store/write data from its own read data storage.

Shifting Data Between Adjacent Bit Line Sections

It is desirable to be able to shift read data between adjacent bit line sections of a processing array. The ability to shift read data between adjacent bit line sections of the processing array allows the processing array to perform more complicated logic functions. For example, if it is desirable for the computational array to add two 16 bit vectors, the processing array may place 1 bit (the same relative bit) from each vector in a single bl-sect so that the entire vectors are spread over 16 bl-sects (say, the same relative bit line across multiple sections). One way to perform the addition in this case is to add the first least significant bits (LSBs) of the 2 vectors (say in bl-sect[0,0]) to generate a “sum” bit and a “carry” bit. The carry bit then needs to be shifted to the bl-sect that contains the next (2^(nd)) 2 LSBs (say bl-sect[1,0]), so that those 2 LSBs plus the carry bit can then be added together to generate the next sum and carry bits. That next (2^(nd)) carry bit then needs to be shifted to the bl-sect that contains the next (3^(rd)) 2 LSBs (bl-sect[2,0]). Etc. So the shifting ability described here provides a mechanism to shift carry bits during an “add” computation.

One way to provide a mechanism to shift data between adjacent bit lines in the same section, and between the same relative bit lines in adjacent sections, is to connect the read storage 52 output in each bl-sect[x,y] not only to that bl-sect's write logic 54, but also to the write logic 54 associated with its 4 horizontally and vertically adjacent neighbor bl-sects: bl-sect[x,y−1], bl-sect[x,y+1], bl-sect[x−1,y], and bl-sect[x+1,y]. Consequently, the write logic 54 for a particular bl-sect receives the read data storage 52 outputs from 5 bl-sects—itself plus its 4 horizontally and vertically adjacent neighbors.

Since each bl-sect has (up to) 5 read data storage outputs feeding its write logic as shown in FIG. 6, a 5:1 write mux (shown in FIGS. 7-8 and described below) in some embodiments may be used to select which of those 5 read data storage outputs is used as the write data source to the bl-sect during a write operation. Furthermore, the one or more control signals shown in FIG. 5 from the WL generator and read/write logic controller and described above may include S[x]_wmux_sel[2:0] control signals for each section that are used to control the write mux selection during the write operation for each section.

The net result of the 5 read data storage output connections to each bl-sect's write logic 54, and the circuitry to select one of the read data storage outputs (the multiplexer in one embodiment) within each bl-sect, is that each bl-sect can store the read data storage output data (as produced by one or more read operations) from any of the 5 bl-sects—itself plus its 4 neighbors as described, thereby providing a mechanism to shift data between horizontally and vertically adjacent bl-sects.

FIG. 6 illustrates a processing array device 30 consisting of “k” sections (Section 0 . . . , Section k in the example in FIG. 6) with “n” bit lines per section and thus shows a 2-dimensional “k by n” array of bl-sects. In the array, each bl-sect has 5 read data storage outputs (its own read data storage output plus the read data storage outputs from its 4 neighbor bl-sects) feeding the write logic of the bl-sect so that the write logic receives as input each of the read data storage output signals. In the example embodiment in FIG. 6, each section includes one or more bit line sections (Sect-BL0, . . . , Sect-BLn) in a row of the processing array.

Note that the “k by n” exemplary array of bl-sects in FIG. 6 has four “edges” including two horizontal edges and two vertical edges. The bl-sects 600 along the two horizontal edges of the “k by n” array are BL-Sect[0,0], . . . , BL-Sect[0,n] and BL-Sect[k,0], . . . , BL-Sect[k:n] with the BL-Sect[0,0], . . . , BL-Sect[0,n] contained in the dashed line boxes in FIG. 6. The bl-sects 602 along the two vertical edges of the “k by n” array are BL-Sect[0,0], . . . BL-Sect[k,0] & BL-Sect[0,n], . . . BL-Sect[k,n] with the BL-Sect[0,n], . . . BL-Sect[k,n] contained in a dashed line box. In addition, the “k by n” array of bl-sects in FIG. 6 has four “corners” at the intersection of each pair of “edges”. The subset of 4 “corner” bl-sects within the set of “edge” bl-sects in the “k by n” array are BL-Sect[0,0], BL-Sect[0,n], BL-Sect[k,0], & BL-Sect[k,n] in the example in FIG. 6. The horizontal and vertical edge bl-sects (excluding the subset of “corner” bl-sects) lack one adjacent neighbor bl-sect whose location depends on the particular “edge” bl-sect. The “corner” bl-sects lack two adjacent neighbor bl-sects whose location depends on the particular “corner” bl-sect. For each corner bl-sect, the two neighbor bl-sects may include an adjacent bit line section (such as BL-Sect[0,1] for the corner bl-sect BL-Sect[0,0]) having an adjacent single read bit line (bit line 1 in section 0 for example) horizontally adjacent to the corner bit line section and a same relative bit line (for example, BL-Sect [1,0] for corner bl-sect BL-Sect[0,0]) having the same relative read bit line as the read bit line of the corner bit line section (bit line 0 for both Section 0 and Section 1) vertically adjacent to the corner bit line section.

Each edge bl-sect along either edge of the processing array has three neighbor bl-sects. Each horizontal edge bl-sect (such as BL-Sect[k,1]) may have two neighbor adjacent bit line section (for example, BL-Sect[k,0] and BL-Sect[k,2] for BL-Sect[k,1]) having an adjacent single read bit line (bit line 0 and bit line 2 in section k for example) horizontally adjacent to the horizontal edge bit line section and a same relative bit line (for example, BL-Sect [k−1,1] for BL-Sect[k,1]) having the same relative read bit line as the read bit line of the horizontal edge bit line section (bit line 1 for both Section k and Section k−1) vertically adjacent to the horizontal edge bit line section. Each vertical edge bl-sect (such as BL-Sect[1,n]) may have one neighbor adjacent bit line section (for example, BL-Sect[1,n−1] for BL-Sect[1,n]) having an adjacent single read bit line (bit line n−1 in section 1 for example) horizontally adjacent to the vertical edge bit line section and two same relative bit line (for example, BL-Sect [0,n] and BL-Sect [2,n] for BL-Sect[1,n]) having the same relative read bit line as the read bit line of the vertical edge bit line section (bit line n for both Section 0, Section 1 and Section 2) vertically adjacent to the vertical edge bit line section.

FIG. 7 illustrates the read/write circuitry 34 for each bl-sect including the read circuitry 50, the read data storage 52 and the write circuitry 54 associated with each bl-sect in the processing array device depicted in FIG. 6. The read circuitry 50 and read data storage 52 operate and are implemented as described above. In this embodiment, the write circuitry may further include a multiplexer 70, such as a 5:1 write multiplexer for the embodiment in FIG. 7, and additional write circuitry 72 that is connected to the output of the multiplexer 70. The multiplexer 70 is used to select which of the 5 read data storage outputs feeding that write circuitry 34 is used as the write data source to the particular bl-sect during a write operation. In the example in FIG. 7, the inputs to the multiplexer may include an output from the read data storage 52 of that bl-sect, the horizontal neighbor bl-sect read data storage outputs (S[x−1]_RBL[y]_Reg_Out and S[x+1]_RBL[y]_Reg_Out) and the vertical neighbor bl-sect read data storage outputs (S[x]_RBL[y−1]_Reg_Out and S[x]_RBL[y+1]_Reg_Out). The RW control signals may also include S[x]_wmux_sel[2:0] control signals that are used to control the write mux selection during the write operation. The output of the multiplexer 70 (S[x]_RBL[y]_WMUX_Out) may be fed as a input to the additional write circuitry 72 that can write the data to the two word bit lines of the memory cells of the bl-sect.

Like each other bl-sect, the output of the read storage 52 (the read register) (S[x]_RBL[y]_Reg_Out) is output from the read/write circuitry 34 and also sent to the 4 neighboring bl-sects (except for bl-sects along an edge or at a corner) that may be Section[x−1], BL[y], Sect [x+1], BL[y], Sect [x], BL[y−1] and Sect [x], BL[y+1]. The read/write circuits 34 is a means for swapping/shifting data to adjacent bl-sects. In edge and corner bl-sects, the absent read data storage output connection(s) to their respective write multiplexers (corresponding to the particular neighbor bl-sect(s) that the edge and corner bl-sects lack) can simply be tied off, for example set to a logic “0” so that the same write circuitry 54 with the multiplexer 70 in FIG. 7 may be used for all of the bl-sects. For example, in the “k by n” array of bl-sects illustrated in FIG. 6, the following write mux connections (as illustrated in FIG. 7) can be tied off:

The S[x−1]_RBL[y]_Reg_Out connection to bl_sect[0,y] Write Mux.

The S[x+1]_RBL[y]_Reg_Out connection to bl_sect[k,y] Write Mux.

The S[x]_RBL[y−1]_Reg_Out connection to bl_sect[x,0] Write Mux.

The S[x]_RBL[y+1]_Reg_Out connection to bl_sect[x,n] Write Mux.

Inverting Data Before it is Stored in the BL-Sect

FIG. 8 illustrates the read/write circuitry 34 for each bl-sect including the read circuitry 50, the read data storage 52 and the write circuitry 54 associated with each bl-sect in the processing array device depicted in FIG. 6 in which logic and control signal are implemented in the bl-sect's write logic 54 (that also has the same multiplexer 70 and additional write circuitry 72) to provide the ability to invert the selected data (i.e. the 5:1 mux output) before it is stored in the bl-sect. One way to provide a mechanism to invert the selected write data (i.e. the output of the multiplexer 70, as described previously) before it is stored in the bl-sect during a write operation is to implement logic in the bl-sect's write logic that Exclusive-ORs (XORs) (using a XOR circuit 80) the selected write data under control of a write data inversion control signal (S[x]_winvert signal) that is part of the set of read/write control signals sent to the read/write circuitry 34 of the bl-sect.

When the write data inversion control signal is low, the output of the XOR logic 80 is equal to the selected write data. When the write data inversion control signal is high, the output of the XOR logic 80 is equal to the inverted selected write data. In this embodiment, the output of the XOR logic is used as the write data source for the bl-sect during write operations.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

The system and method disclosed herein may be implemented via one or more components, systems, servers, appliances, other subcomponents, or distributed between such elements. When implemented as a system, such systems may include an/or involve, inter alia, components such as software modules, general-purpose CPU, RAM, etc. found in general-purpose computers. In implementations where the innovations reside on a server, such a server may include or involve components such as CPU, RAM, etc., such as those found in general-purpose computers.

Additionally, the system and method herein may be achieved via implementations with disparate or entirely different software, hardware and/or firmware components, beyond that set forth above. With regard to such other components (e.g., software, processing components, etc.) and/or computer-readable media associated with or embodying the present inventions, for example, aspects of the innovations herein may be implemented consistent with numerous general purpose or special purpose computing systems or configurations. Various exemplary computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the innovations herein may include, but are not limited to: software or other components within or embodied on personal computers, servers or server computing devices such as routing/connectivity components, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, consumer electronic devices, network PCs, other existing computer platforms, distributed computing environments that include one or more of the above systems or devices, etc.

In some instances, aspects of the system and method may be achieved via or performed by logic and/or logic instructions including program modules, executed in association with such components or circuitry, for example. In general, program modules may include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that performs particular tasks or implement particular instructions herein. The inventions may also be practiced in the context of distributed software, computer, or circuit settings where circuitry is connected via communication buses, circuitry or links. In distributed settings, control/instructions may occur from both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.

The software, circuitry and components herein may also include and/or utilize one or more type of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that is resident on, associable with, or can be accessed by such circuits and/or computing components. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and can accessed by computing component. Communication media may comprise computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and/or other components. Further, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, however no media of any such type herein includes transitory media. Combinations of the any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.

In the present description, the terms component, module, device, etc. may refer to any type of logical or functional software elements, circuits, blocks and/or processes that may be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, the functions of various circuits and/or blocks can be combined with one another into any other number of modules. Each module may even be implemented as a software program stored on a tangible memory (e.g., random access memory, read only memory, CD-ROM memory, hard disk drive, etc.) to be read by a central processing unit to implement the functions of the innovations herein. Or, the modules can comprise programming instructions transmitted to a general purpose computer or to processing/graphics hardware via a transmission carrier wave. Also, the modules can be implemented as hardware logic circuitry implementing the functions encompassed by the innovations herein. Finally, the modules can be implemented using special purpose instructions (SIMD instructions), field programmable logic arrays or any mix thereof which provides the desired level performance and cost.

As disclosed herein, features consistent with the disclosure may be implemented via computer-hardware, software and/or firmware. For example, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in various forms including, for example, a data processor, such as a computer that also includes a database, digital electronic circuitry, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Further, while some of the disclosed implementations describe specific hardware components, systems and methods consistent with the innovations herein may be implemented with any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Moreover, the above-noted features and other aspects and principles of the innovations herein may be implemented in various environments. Such environments and related applications may be specially constructed for performing the various routines, processes and/or operations according to the invention or they may include a general-purpose computer or computing platform selectively activated or reconfigured by code to provide the necessary functionality. The processes disclosed herein are not inherently related to any particular computer, network, architecture, environment, or other apparatus, and may be implemented by a suitable combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. For example, various general-purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordance with teachings of the invention, or it may be more convenient to construct a specialized apparatus or system to perform the required methods and techniques.

Aspects of the method and system described herein, such as the logic, may also be implemented as functionality programmed into any of a variety of circuitry, including programmable logic devices (“PLDs”), such as field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), programmable array logic (“PAL”) devices, electrically programmable logic and memory devices and standard cell-based devices, as well as application specific integrated circuits. Some other possibilities for implementing aspects include: memory devices, microcontrollers with memory (such as EEPROM), embedded microprocessors, firmware, software, etc. Furthermore, aspects may be embodied in microprocessors having software-based circuit emulation, discrete logic (sequential and combinatorial), custom devices, fuzzy (neural) logic, quantum devices, and hybrids of any of the above device types. The underlying device technologies may be provided in a variety of component types, e.g., metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (“MOSFET”) technologies like complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”), bipolar technologies like emitter-coupled logic (“ECL”), polymer technologies (e.g., silicon-conjugated polymer and metal-conjugated polymer-metal structures), mixed analog and digital, and so on.

It should also be noted that the various logic and/or functions disclosed herein may be enabled using any number of combinations of hardware, firmware, and/or as data and/or instructions embodied in various machine-readable or computer-readable media, in terms of their behavioral, register transfer, logic component, and/or other characteristics. Computer-readable media in which such formatted data and/or instructions may be embodied include, but are not limited to, non-volatile storage media in various forms (e.g., optical, magnetic or semiconductor storage media) though again does not include transitory media. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “hereunder,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the word “or” is used in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list.

Although certain presently preferred implementations of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the various implementations shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the applicable rules of law.

While the foregoing has been with reference to a particular embodiment of the disclosure, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes in this embodiment may be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A processing array, comprising: a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, each memory cell having a storage element wherein the array has a plurality of sections and each section has a plurality of rows of memory cells and a plurality of columns of memory cells organized as a plurality of bit line sections equal to the number of columns in the section, wherein each bit line section includes all of the rows of memory cells in a single column of the section, wherein the memory cells in each bit line section are all connected to a single read bit line and the plurality of bit lines in each section are distinct from the plurality of bit lines included in the other sections of the array, wherein each bit line section of each section has two or more neighbor bit line sections in the array; means, in each bit line section, for shifting data between each bit line section and the two or more neighbor bit line sections in the array; and write circuitry that distributes a selected piece of read data to a set of write bit lines of the memory cells in the bit line section that further comprises a multiplexer that selects the selected piece of read data, the selected piece of read data selected from a piece of read data of the bit line section and a piece of read data from the two or more neighbor bit line sections in the array.
 2. The processing array of claim 1 further comprising means, in each bit line section connected to the single read bit line, for reading data from the memory cells in the bit line section.
 3. The processing array of claim 1, wherein the array has a particular bit line section that is a bit line section at a corner of the processing array and wherein the two or more neighbor bit line sections further comprise an adjacent bit line section, having an adjacent single read bit line, horizontally adjacent to the corner bit line section and a same relative bit line section, having the same relative read bit line as the read bit line of the corner bit line section, vertically adjacent to the corner bit line section.
 4. The processing array of claim 1, wherein the array has a particular bit line section that is a bit line section along a horizontal edge of the processing array and wherein the two or more neighbor bit line sections further comprise two neighbor adjacent bit line sections, each having an adjacent single read bit line, horizontally adjacent to the horizontal edge bit line section and a same relative bit line section, having the same relative read bit line as the read bit line of the horizontal edge bit line section, vertically adjacent to the horizontal edge bit line section.
 5. The processing array of claim 1, wherein the array has a particular bit line section that is a bit line section along a vertical edge of the processing array and wherein the two or more neighbor bit line sections further comprise a neighbor adjacent bit line section, having an adjacent single read bit line, horizontally adjacent to the vertical edge bit line section and two same relative bit line sections, having the same relative read bit line as the read bit line of the vertical edge bit line section, vertically adjacent to the vertical edge bit line section.
 6. The processing array of claim 1, wherein the two or more neighbor bit line sections further comprise two adjacent bit line sections, each having an adjacent single read bit line, horizontally adjacent to the bit line section and two same relative bit line sections, each having the same relative read bit line as the read bit line of the bit line section, vertically adjacent to the bit line section.
 7. The processing array of claim 1 further comprising a multiplexer control signal that controls the multiplexer to select the selected piece of read data.
 8. The processing array of claim 7, wherein the multiplexer has five inputs connected to the read data from the bit line section and a piece of read data from the two or more neighbor bit line section in the array.
 9. The processing array of claim 8, wherein the array has a bit line section that is a corner bit line section at a corner of the array and two inputs of the multiplexer are set to zero.
 10. The processing array of claim 8 wherein the array has a bit line section that is an edge bit line section at an edge of the array and one input of the multiplexer is set to zero.
 11. The processing array of claim 1, wherein the write circuitry further comprises an inversion circuit connected to the output of the multiplexer that is configurable to invert the selected piece of read data before it is written to the set of word lines of the memory cells in the bit line section.
 12. The processing array of claim 11, wherein the inversion circuit further comprises an exclusive OR logic gate.
 13. A processing array, comprising: a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, each memory cell having a storage element wherein the array has a plurality of sections and each section has a plurality of rows of memory cells and a plurality of columns of memory cells organized as a plurality of bit line sections equal to the number of columns in the section, wherein each bit line section includes all of the rows of memory cells in a single column of the section, wherein the memory cells in each bit line section are all connected to a single read bit line and the plurality of bit lines in each section are distinct from the plurality of bit lines included in the other sections of the array, wherein each bit line section of each section has two or more neighbor bit line sections in the array; means, in each bit line section, for shifting data between each bit line section and the two or more neighbor bit line sections in the array; and means, in each bit line section connected to the single read bit line, for reading data from the memory cells in the bit line section, wherein the means for reading data from the single read bit line further comprises read storage connected to the single read bit line to store the read data read out on the single read bit line.
 14. The processing array of claim 13, wherein the read storage is a register. 